Surfboards Explained, Shapes, Volume and Conditions
Surfboards Explained
Choosing the Right Surfboard for Dutch Waves and Beyond
Surfboard choice is not just about skill level. It is about matching your board to the waves you actually ride. In the Netherlands, conditions are often soft, choppy, and inconsistent, which means volume, stability, and efficient shapes matter. But surfboard design goes far beyond local conditions. The right shape also depends on your style, progression, travel plans, and the type of surfing you want to develop.
Surfing in the Netherlands
Dutch waves are typically short period, wind affected, and lower in power. You are often dealing with chop, weaker take-offs, and less push compared to ocean reef or point breaks.
Because of this, the right surfboard is not always the same as what you see in high-performance surf edits. More often, you need a board that generates speed easily, paddles efficiently, and carries momentum through flatter sections.
Behind The Pines advice: in Dutch conditions, more volume is often the better choice. It helps with paddling, wave entry, and maintaining speed in weaker sections.
Surfboard types explained
Mid-length surfboards
Mid-length boards are one of the most versatile options for Dutch waves. They offer more volume, smoother paddling, and better glide across weaker sections.
They are not just beginner boards. A good mid-length gives flow, trim, paddle power, and confidence while still allowing you to turn and progress. This is why they are one of the most popular choices within our mid-length surfboard collection.
Shortboards
Traditional shortboards are built for performance, but require speed and power to work properly. In weaker conditions, they can feel slow and unforgiving.
If you choose a shortboard for local conditions, consider extra volume, a slightly wider outline, or a hybrid construction from our shortboard collection.
Longboards
Longboards offer maximum glide, stability, and wave count. They perform well in smaller conditions and allow you to catch waves earlier.
A longboard is ideal if you value classic lines, early entry, cross-stepping, and a more relaxed rhythm. Explore classic shapes in our longboard collection.
Hybrid surfboards
Hybrid boards combine performance and volume. Shapes like the Hypto Krypto or Pyzel Gremlin are strong options for Dutch conditions because they generate speed easily and handle mixed surf well.
These boards bridge the gap between shortboards and mid-lengths. They are practical if you want one board that works locally but can still perform when the waves improve.
Understanding surfboard shapes globally
While Dutch conditions often call for more volume and forgiving shapes, surfboard design is built around a much broader range of waves and riding styles. Understanding these shapes helps you choose the right board not just for local sessions, but also for travel, progression, and different types of surf.
Every surfboard is a balance between speed, control, manoeuvrability, and paddle power. The outline, rocker, rails, tail shape, fin setup, and volume distribution all influence how a board performs in specific conditions.
Fish surfboards
Fish shapes are not just about looks. They are designed to generate speed in weaker waves thanks to their wider outline, flatter rocker, fuller nose, and often twin-fin setup.
A fish is a good choice if you want flow, speed, and a loose feeling in softer surf. It also works surprisingly well in clean waves where you want a fast, drawn-out style rather than aggressive top-to-bottom surfing.
Performance shortboards
Built for steeper, more powerful waves, performance shortboards have more rocker, narrower outlines, and lower volume. They allow tight turns, quick transitions, and vertical surfing.
In weaker waves, they require more precision and speed generation from the rider. They make sense when the surf has enough push or when you are travelling to better waves.
Hybrid shapes
Hybrid boards combine the speed of wider outlines with the control of performance shapes. Boards like the Hypto Krypto or models from our Pyzel surfboard collection are designed to work across a wide range of conditions.
They are one of the most practical choices if you want one board that performs both locally and during surf trips.
Mid-length progression
Mid-lengths are a conscious choice for surfers who want flow, glide, and consistency. They help you read waves better, catch more waves, and surf with more composure.
They perform well in weaker waves, but also open up a more relaxed, stylish approach to surfing in better conditions.
Why volume matters
Volume is one of the most important factors when choosing a surfboard. It determines how well you paddle, how early you catch waves, and how stable the board feels under your feet.
In weaker waves, a board with more volume helps you maintain speed and flow. Less volume may feel more responsive, but it often struggles in Dutch conditions.
For most surfers here, it makes more sense to ride slightly more volume than too little. The goal is not to oversize the board blindly, but to choose enough foam to match the waves you surf most often.
Choosing a surfboard for travel and progression
Many surfers ride Dutch waves most of the time, but travel to more powerful destinations throughout the year. This is where having the right quiver or a well-balanced board becomes important.
A higher volume mid-length, fish, or hybrid may be perfect at home, while a more refined shortboard can perform better in clean reef, beach, or point breaks. If you only own one board, choose around your most frequent conditions. If you surf often and travel, a second board can make your setup much stronger.
Behind The Pines advice: build your setup around your most frequent conditions, then expand with a second board that covers better waves. One board rarely does everything perfectly.
Custom surfboards and tailored shapes
Not every surfer fits into standard sizing or volume charts. That is where custom surfboards come in. A custom shape allows you to fine tune volume, outline, rocker, rails, and dimensions based on your weight, level, and the waves you ride most.
At Behind The Pines, we work with shapers like The Gliding Dutchman to create boards that are specifically tuned for local conditions and individual preferences. This gives you a more personal and precise setup compared to off-the-rack models.
We also offer performance-driven shapes from brands like Pyzel, known for combining modern performance with real-world usability across a wide range of waves.
When to go custom: if you struggle with standard sizing, want to optimise for specific conditions, or are looking to refine your surfing with a more dialled-in board.
Essential surf gear
The right surfboard is only part of your setup. To get the most out of your sessions, you also need reliable accessories and proper maintenance.
Safety
A good surf leash keeps your board close and prevents unnecessary risk in the water.
Protection
Use surfboard bags to protect your board during travel and storage.
Maintenance
Keep your board in good condition with repair and maintenance products.
Our approach to surfboards
At Behind The Pines, we select surfboards that perform in local and more specific conditions. That means shapes that work in weaker waves, offer reliable paddle power, and maintain speed when conditions are not perfect.
We also look beyond Dutch waves. A good surfboard should match your level, your conditions, and the way you want to surf. That can mean a forgiving mid-length, a fast hybrid, a classic longboard, or a custom shape made around your exact needs.
We focus on brands like Haydenshapes and Pyzel, alongside custom options from The Gliding Dutchman.
Explore surfboards at Behind The Pines
Whether you are looking for a versatile mid-length, a hybrid performance shape, a classic longboard, or a custom surfboard tuned to your needs, the right board should match the waves you ride most often and the way you want to progress.
Explore surfboards